Effect of orally administered N-(2-hydroxyl) propyl-3-trimethyl ammonium chitosan on the levels of iron, zinc, copper, calcium and lead in mice

The N-(2-hydroxyl) propyl-3-trimethyl ammonium chitosan chloride (HPT-chitosan) was prepared by the reaction of chitosan with glycidyl trimethylammonium chloride. The HPT-chitosan (0.75%, w/w) in diet was fed mice for 30 days. The body weights of mice in HPT-chitosan group and control group had no significant difference. The concentrations of Fe, Zn, Cu, Ca and Pb in the organs of the mice were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The concentrations of 48.24 ± 19.6 mg/kg Fe, 18.16 ± 5.11 mg/kg Zn and 39.2 ± 19.4 mg/kg Ca in mice's livers of HPT-chitosan group were significantly low compared to that of 212.6 ± 112.4 mg/kg Fe, 23.17 ± 4.29 mg/kg Zn and 261.6 ± 152.9 mg/kg Ca in the mice's livers of control group, respectively. Nevertheless, the concentrations of Cu and Pb in mice's livers of HPT-chitosan group did not decrease compared to control group. The HPT-chitosan significantly depressed the levels of Fe, Zn and Ca in the tested mice's livers.